Wednesday action – Ardal North West: Rhyl beat Saints, Connah’s Quay Town strike again

Rhyl (green) celebrate opening the scoring at St Asaph. Picture: RICHARD BATES – many thanks

REPORTS – WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28

LOCK STOCK ARDAL NORTH WEST

St Asaph City 0 CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2

Two first half goals clinched Rhyl 1879 a win which lifted them up to third in Ardal North West and maintained their unbeaten record against St Asaph.

The teams have met four times since 1879 began playing competitively in 2021-22 and on both occasions they have visited Roe Plas Meadows, the Lilywhites ended up winners.

Manager Gareth Thomas was keen to get back to winning ways after suffering the first defeat of the season last time out in the league against Holyhead Hotspur.

Due to Josh Cooke’s red card at Holyhead, he was unavailable for Wednesday’s derby and Sam Thomas was called back into the team to wear the number one shirt.

Carl Lamb also made his return to the Lilywhites and was named on the bench. Lamb notched 38 goals in 29 games for 1879 in their tier 4 double-winning 2021-22 campaign.

Alex Jones was still out due to an ongoing calf injury, while it emerged this week that striker Jonny Taylor has left the club in pursuit of more game time.

St Asaph keeper Hughie Foulkes is a young player to watch. Picture: RICHARD BATES

Both teams would come close in the opening exchanges, James Williams firing over for City and Callum Parry seeing his effort punched away by 18-year-old keeper Hughie Foulkes for a corner.

In the 23rd minute, Sam Ashton was brought down inside the box and a penalty was given, but Callum Parry’s effort low to the right was caught by Foulkes.

With the bit between their teeth, 1879 continued to push on and were rewarded when a Danny Clarke long throw came to Casey Faulkner who fired through the crowded box into the top-left corner of the goal.

Soon after Clarke crossed from the left, Jordan Worthington flicked onto the head of James Jones, who nodded downwards and Reece Fairhurst fired in from close range.

The second half began with a change for the home side, Paris Gray moving from his defensive position to up front, and James Williams being replaced by Josh Brown.

The switches had an effect as Saints started to cause 1879 problems, but from a sustained period of pressure they couldn’t break the Lilywhites defence down, Sam Thomas denying Jake Walker twice.

On the hour, Parry would put the ball in the back of the net for Rhyl only to see the assistant’s flag raised and the goal ruled out for offside.

Lamb came on after 65 and almost made an instant impact, the striker heading into the path of Jonny Bravo, who couldn’t convert.

Conwy Borough 0 Connah’s Quay Town 2

Still unbeaten after five matches in a higher league and sitting in second spot – Connah’s Quay Town have made a tremendous start to the 2024-25 season.

Veteran Jamie Reed made it four goals in as many games when he edged Town in front on 13 minutes, Freddie Watts with the assist.

Boro did not help their cause when they had Lewis McMillan red-carded in the 58th minute.

The visitors took advantage of their extra man in the 83rd minute when substitute Pascal Gomez, a 21-year-old livewire from Gambia, made it 2-0 after good work from Ryan Hewitt.

CPD Llannefydd 3 Corwen 3

Corwen picked up three late red cards in a game where they led until the 93rd minute when Llannefydd’s Tom Jones equalised from the penalty spot.

In a chaotic finish to the match, goals, sendings-off, penalties scored and missed all featured in the script.

Tom Mann’s goal ensured the visitors led 1-0 at the break, but the hosts were back on terms after 70 thanks to David Lawson-Cooke’s net-finder.

Sam Henry restored the away lead on 81, then the same player converted a penalty on 85 for 3-1.

In the 87th minute, Dafydd Evans saw red for Corwen, Elgan Roberts missed from the spot for Llan, then away team manager Adam Galdo was ordered off with 90 gone and his side still two goals ahead.

Mathew Evans gave the hosts hope when he pulled one back on 92, then Henry became the third Corwen player to be dismissed, this time for two yellows.

Jones then knocked in a penalty to make it 3-3 and rescue a point.

NFA 1 CPD Y Felinheli 0

Antonio Jacovelli grabbed the all-important 78th minute goal which was enough to seal NFA three points at Ffordd Derwen.

The Rhyl side have won all four of their home matches this season to date.

CPD Pwllheli 4 Menai Bridge Tigers 1

Ashley Ainsworth, Steffan Toplis, Dafydd Roberts and substitute Guto Roberts shared the goals in an impressive Pwllheli victory, Darren Gowans with a consolation for Tigers, who are bottom of Ardal North West after five straight defeats.